Alabama GOP may oust chairman despite success

The scenic Alabama Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., is pictured during a combined session of the Alabama Legislature, Jan. 12, 2010. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley was delivering his annual State of the State address.

The Associated Press

By Phillip RawlsThe Associated Press

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:13 p.m.

MONTGOMERY | The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party led the GOP to big victories in November. Now some of Alabama's top Republican officials, including the governor, want to oust him on Saturday.

They accuse Chairman Bill Armistead of dividing the party despite its success at the ballot box. Armistead says he's still got lots of support and expects to prevail over challenger Matt Fridy when the Republican Executive Committee votes Saturday in Birmingham.

"The 450 members of the executive committee are capable of making up their minds without elected officials getting involved," he said.

Armistead, 68, is a former state senator from Columbiana who was elected chairman two years ago with the help of Gov. Robert Bentley. He defeated state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery, who was the choice of the outgoing chairman, House Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn. In the November 2012 election, Armistead helped the party defeat the last Democrat holding a statewide office in Alabama and win courthouse offices in traditionally Democratic counties.

Normally, a GOP chairman gets re-elected to another two-year term after a big victory. But some state officials say the November success came despite discord in the party.

"We need to have unity in the party and work together," Bentley said in a recent conference call to encourage executive committee members to support Fridy.

Fridy, a 36-year-old attorney from Montevallo, is the former chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party and is a current member of the state party's steering committee. "My involvement in politics stems from being involved in the pro-life movement," he said.

The vote Saturday is a test of influence within the party. In addition to support from Bentley, Fridy has the backing of the House speaker and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey. Roy Moore, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is on Armistead's side.

Armistead said he has supported Bentley, even though he disagreed when Bentley hired two Democrats for his Cabinet. He said he demonstrated that support by getting the party leadership to remain neutral when some wanted to oppose Bentley's General Fund referendum last year. Armistead said that neutrality helped persuade voters to approve letting Bentley take $437 million out of state savings account to prop up the state General Fund budget for three years.

"It was a complete shock to me when he came out for Matt Fridy," Armistead said.

He said he talked to Bentley about why he was switching sides, and Bentley cited an audit that Armistead had performed of Hubbard's tenure as chairman. "He responded the audit has divided the party and it is hurting Mike Hubbard," Armistead said.

The audit found $83,524 in party money was paid to an Auburn printing company while Hubbard, who is one of its owners, was serving as party chairman during the 2010 elections.

Other Republicans cite Armistead's race against Ivey last summer for the chairmanship of Alabama's delegation to the Republican National Convention, even though Ivey led Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaign in Alabama in 2008 and 2012. She defeated him for the delegation chairmanship, which leads Fridy's and his supporters to believe Armistead could be in for another defeat Saturday.

"We feel very good about our numbers," Fridy said. "I'm very excited about support from grassroots conservatives."

Fridy said the audit has caused concern, but most of the division is based on personality issues. He said Armistead appears to promote himself rather than party officeholders. That includes leading the party's website with his photo.

"Being party chairman is being a servant. You will be lucky to find a picture of me anywhere on the website," Fridy said.

Alabama's Democratic Party chairman, Mark Kennedy, serves a four-year term and is not up for election this year.

<p>MONTGOMERY | The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party led the GOP to big victories in November. Now some of Alabama's top Republican officials, including the governor, want to oust him on Saturday.</p><p>They accuse Chairman Bill Armistead of dividing the party despite its success at the ballot box. Armistead says he's still got lots of support and expects to prevail over challenger Matt Fridy when the Republican Executive Committee votes Saturday in Birmingham.</p><p>"The 450 members of the executive committee are capable of making up their minds without elected officials getting involved," he said.</p><p>Armistead, 68, is a former state senator from Columbiana who was elected chairman two years ago with the help of Gov. Robert Bentley. He defeated state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery, who was the choice of the outgoing chairman, House Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn. In the November 2012 election, Armistead helped the party defeat the last Democrat holding a statewide office in Alabama and win courthouse offices in traditionally Democratic counties.</p><p>Normally, a GOP chairman gets re-elected to another two-year term after a big victory. But some state officials say the November success came despite discord in the party.</p><p>"We need to have unity in the party and work together," Bentley said in a recent conference call to encourage executive committee members to support Fridy.</p><p>Fridy, a 36-year-old attorney from Montevallo, is the former chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party and is a current member of the state party's steering committee. "My involvement in politics stems from being involved in the pro-life movement," he said.</p><p>The vote Saturday is a test of influence within the party. In addition to support from Bentley, Fridy has the backing of the House speaker and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey. Roy Moore, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is on Armistead's side.</p><p>Armistead said he has supported Bentley, even though he disagreed when Bentley hired two Democrats for his Cabinet. He said he demonstrated that support by getting the party leadership to remain neutral when some wanted to oppose Bentley's General Fund referendum last year. Armistead said that neutrality helped persuade voters to approve letting Bentley take $437 million out of state savings account to prop up the state General Fund budget for three years.</p><p>"It was a complete shock to me when he came out for Matt Fridy," Armistead said.</p><p>He said he talked to Bentley about why he was switching sides, and Bentley cited an audit that Armistead had performed of Hubbard's tenure as chairman. "He responded the audit has divided the party and it is hurting Mike Hubbard," Armistead said.</p><p>The audit found $83,524 in party money was paid to an Auburn printing company while Hubbard, who is one of its owners, was serving as party chairman during the 2010 elections.</p><p>Other Republicans cite Armistead's race against Ivey last summer for the chairmanship of Alabama's delegation to the Republican National Convention, even though Ivey led Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaign in Alabama in 2008 and 2012. She defeated him for the delegation chairmanship, which leads Fridy's and his supporters to believe Armistead could be in for another defeat Saturday.</p><p>"We feel very good about our numbers," Fridy said. "I'm very excited about support from grassroots conservatives."</p><p>Fridy said the audit has caused concern, but most of the division is based on personality issues. He said Armistead appears to promote himself rather than party officeholders. That includes leading the party's website with his photo.</p><p>"Being party chairman is being a servant. You will be lucky to find a picture of me anywhere on the website," Fridy said.</p><p>Alabama's Democratic Party chairman, Mark Kennedy, serves a four-year term and is not up for election this year.</p>